Shea Lacey's response to being told he's a 'Man Utd success story' is mentality club needs to return to glory
Shea Lacey has been praised by Manchester United fans for his response when asked if he was ‘a success story of the academy’ following the Red Devils’ dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Roma.
Liverpool-born Lacey, who joined United’s academy at the age of seven, was introduced as a 75th-minute substitute for Amad Diallo and put in a game-changing performance in front of the Old Trafford crowd.
The 19-year-old came on with United trailing 2-1 before causing all sorts of problems for Roma full-back Gianluca Mancini.
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Matheus Cunha made it 2-2 in the 83rd minute after Leonardo Balerdi failed to clear Fernandes’ lofted ball.
Lacey then set up the winner, providing the pass for Cunha’s strike. His cameo even prompted some fans to demand that Carrick start him in the Premier League against Aston Villa on November 8. But the teenager is certainly not getting carried away, as he showed in a post-match interview.
Speaking after the game, the interviewer told Lacey that he was a “success story” of the club and “part of this history now”.
Fans have praised Lacey’s response.
“[I'm] not yet [a success story of our Academy],” Lacey replied.
“We’re building towards it, it’s going well. But nights like tonight definitely help. There’s still a long way to go.”
One fan reacted: “That’s the right mentality to have, the work’s not done yet, there’s still a lot of work needed.”
Another added: “Humility will take you a long way, hopefully he stays grounded and gets more opportunities whilst under Carrick and further.”
A third commented: “I really hope he makes it. So much potential there.”
A fourth wrote: “Seems to have a good head on such young shoulders, his time will come.”
A fifth praised him, saying: “Good mentality, not letting it get to his head, I'm rooting for him like mad.”
Lacey also discussed his newfound role as a makeshift right-back, explaining: “It was new, I haven’t done it before. But just to see games out like that, sometimes you’ve got to do those things and I thought it worked in the end, it worked well.”
Speaking about the performance in general, he added: “It was a special feeling, it’s been a long time coming but it was good.
“It was amazing, the atmosphere in the second half, you could feel the momentum shift as soon as Bruno put the penalty away. You could feel it building and building and it [the winner] finally came and it was a special moment.”
Lacey has scored one goal and provided one assist in 10 appearances for United’s senior side since making his debut against Aston Villa in December 2025.
Wayne Rooney urges Shea Lacey to start ahead of Amad
Despite only making a cameo appearance against Roma, Wayne Rooney believes Carrick should start Lacey for the Premier League clash against Villa on November 8.
“That’s a great touch inside and a wonderful pass, and the finish is incredible,” Rooney said when speaking about Lacey’s assist.
“If you look at it again, you probably think, can he square it and play your teammate in? But for me, it’s all about that first touch [from Lacey], takes the defender out and that pass is incredible.
“We’ve said about Amad, Amad does some really good things, but it’s that end product, that is what takes you to the next level. And the glimpses of what I’ve seen from Lacey when he has come on, especially this season.
“He has got something in there, that little touch and little pass which United needed to get them over the line in this game.”
Topics: Premier League, Football News, Michael Carrick, Champions League
Luke Davies
